Is Mexican champ invincible?

World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez has never been knocked out since turning pro in 1993. But that doesn’t mean he won’t crumble once Manny Pacquiao hits his stride in their scheduled 12-round double title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 8.

Pacquiao, a 7-5 favorite, has vowed to stop Marquez in the third round. The Mexican, however, isn’t fazed. Both are confident of victory.

"It took a lot for me to become a world champion and only in death will I relinquish my belts," said Marquez. In Pacquiao’s mind, Marquez’ declaration is nothing more than a death wish.

Marquez, 30, has been decked twice. In 1996, he was floored by Darryl Pinckney but got up to win a 10-round decision. Three years later, Marquez went down from a left straight counter and bowed to Freddy Norwood on points. Norwood fired a booming blow to the face after Marquez double-jabbed with his left and dangled his right hand low. For Pacquiao, the good news is Marquez is hittable and the bad news is he recovers fast.

Pacquiao, 25, has been floored by Rustico Torrecampo, Medgeon 3-K Battery, Nedal Hussein, Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov and Marco Antonio Barrera (a fluke first round knockdown).

Boxing News editor Claude Abrams said Marquez "is often at his most dangerous when hurt."

Against Robbie Peden in 2002, Marquez suffered a broken nose in the third round but it didn’t slow down his attack. The Mexican, breathing loudly from the mouth as blood poured out of his nose, weathered the storm and stopped Peden in the 10th round.

What makes Marquez even more threatening is he fights dirty like Agapito Sanchez who gave Pacquiao fits with his unorthodox style in their 2001 technical draw. He’s notorious for butting foes. Norwood accused Marquez of deliberate butting and had to go to a hospital to sew up a nasty cut over his left eye. Marquez was disqualified in his pro debut after Javier Duran was ruled unfit to continue due to a cut from a headbutt in the first round. Under Mexican rules, Marquez was declared the loser by disqualification.

Another soft spot is Marquez’ inability to cope with fighters who stick and run. In 1995, Marquez nearly lost to former US Olympian Julian Wheeler who used a now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t strategy to pile up points until he was stopped in his tracks in the 10th round. "It showed that those who don’t stand still for long and are difficult to pin down will give the Mexican difficulty," wrote Abrams.

Additionally, Marquez is a slow starter. He picks up steam as the fight progresses. The longer a fight, the better are Marquez’ chances to win. If Pacquiao makes good on his promise to come out smoking, Marquez could go early.

A weakness that Pacquiao could exploit is Marquez’ tendency to raise his knee high when stepping in behind a jab, like kick-starting a motorbike. That could prove fatal as it would telegraph his intentions. But a word of caution is in order–Marquez is known for his confusing foot feints so Pacquiao must be careful not to be thrown off by stutter steps.

Abrams said Marquez has the perfect build for a featherweight unlike Pacquiao. The Mexican has fought mainly as a featherweight and twice weighed in over 130 pounds to score knockouts. If Marquez is a legitimate 126-pounder, Pacquiao is a blown-up version. The Filipino once fought as a flyweight.

"Marquez has a slightly hunched-over stance, gloves always nice and high and he bounces lightly on the balls of his feet, constantly shifting his body weight from one leg to another," noted Abrams. "His biggest problem will be to nail someone who is crafty, elusive and carries a fair punch himself. Marquez’ stiff jab will be instrumental in keeping his opponents at bay and the quick right hand to follow could give (them) problems."

Marquez and Pacquiao have fought only two common opponents—–Sanchez and Reynante Jamili.

Marquez was masterful in carving out a lopsided decision over Sanchez in 1997. The Mexican took a "head" start when he butted Sanchez to open a cut in the second round. The judges’ scorecards weren’t close—–two had it 120-107 and the other, 119-108. Sanchez never had a chance. Against Pacquiao, Sanchez salvaged a draw.

Pacquiao made short work of Jamili, an Erik Morales victim, and scored a second round knockout in 1999. A year later, Jamili was in Reno to lose to Marquez on a third round disposal. Marquez unleashed a variety of punches to floor Jamili five times before the Filipino was counted out. The deadliest punches that the Mexican unraveled from his arsenal that night were a left uppercut, a double left hook to the head and body and a crunching right straight.

Boxing News said Marquez has "cat-like reflexes, fine balance and lightning bolts in his hands."

Marquez’ most impressive showing so far was his seventh round demolition of Manuel Medina to claim the vacant IBF featherweight crown in Las Vegas last year. He smashed Medina to the canvas twice and closed his right eye before referee Robert Byrd stepped in. A left-right-left combination to the face sent Medina down for an eight-count in the second. Two left hooks and a chopping right deposited Medina on the floor early in the seventh.

Marquez’ last outing was a disappointment. He was hardly tested by Derrick (Smoke) Gainer who didn’t put up a fight in losing a seventh round technical decision in Grand Rapids last November. A former full-time accountant, Marquez was businesslike throughout the one-sided contest and chased Gainer from pillar to post. In the end, Marquez resorted to his familiar tactic–headbutting–and opened a cut over Gainer’s left eye to prompt the stoppage.